System for laying or removing railway tracks



Jan. 4, 1949.

A. L; c. BLONDE-LLE 2,458,050

SYSTEM FOR LAYING OR REMOVING RAILWAY TRACKS Filed Aug. 5,1947. 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVE N TU R .u- ABEL LEO CHARLES BLONDELLE ATTORNEYJ1949- A. Le. BLONDEhLE 2,458,050

I SYSTEM FOR LAYING 0R REMOVING RAILWAY TRACKS Filed Aug. 5, 1947 3Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTUR ABEL LEO CHARLES BLDNIDELLE BY M4,, WM

ATTORNEYS 1949- A. L. c. BLONDELLE I 2,458,050

SYSTEM FOR LAYING OR REMOVING RAILWAY TRACKS Filed Aug. 5, 1947 3Sheets-Sheet s INVENTUR ABEL LEO cnnme; BITONDELLE ATTU RN 5Y5 PatentedJan. 4, 1949 SYSTEM FOR LAYING OR REMOVIN G RAILWAY TRACKS Abel LoCharles Blondelle, Sartrouville, France,

assignor to Society Entreprises Metropolitaines 3 & Coloniales, S. A.,Pari France s, France, a society of Application August 5, 1947, SerialNo.766,351

In France April 5, 1946 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 6Claims.

The present invention relates to systems for laying and removing railwaytracks in fully assembled sections or elements, that isto say sectionsincluding both rails and sleepers.

Its chief object is to provide a system of this kind which is betteradaptedto meet the requirements of practice, than those used for thesame purpose up to this time in particular which permits a quickerlaying and removal of the track sections while complying with the gaugerequirements imposed by railway circulation regulations.

A preferred embodiment of my invention will be hereinafter describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings given merely by way ofexample, and in which: i

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing, in elevation, a system accordingto my invention for laying and removing a railway track;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section, on a larger scale, of the main portionof my system;

Figs. 3 and 4 represent, respectively inlon gitudinal section and in topview, a conveyor carriage belonging to this apparatus.

I fit, on a rolling platform I, a raised runway 2 adapted to act assupport for a conveyor carriage 3, said runway overhanging thesubstructure of the track 4 to be repaired both at the front and at therear of rolling platform I.

This runway, which is advantageously mounted in a cantilever girder 5,is supported by two rows of bracket posts 6 bearing upon platform I.

Apparatus of this kind have already been used for laying and removingrailway track sections, or elements, the track section I to be movedbeing picked up at one end of runway 2 by the conveyor carriage 3 (forinstance on a train of trucks), then conveyed to the other end of saidrunway to overhang the substructure of the track ahead of platform I,and finally laid on the substructure. It will be seen that, in thecourse of such an operation, track section I must be able to move freelybetween the two rows of bracket posts 6. Now it is a fact that thetransverse dimensions admitted for railway sleepers, ac,- count beingtaken of increases due to rechairing, make it necessary, if it isdesired to pass track elements as above referred to between said rows ofbracket posts, toprovide a distance between these rows such that thetransverse gauge of the apparatus finally happens to be larger than themaster gauge admitted for rolling stock.

Various solutions have been proposed for overcoming this difiiculty, butthese solutions involve a considerable loss of time and a complicationof the apparatus.

As a matter of fact, a first type of solution consisted in fittingthebracket posts on the runway only at the place of working, the tworows of bracket posts being then located at a distance from each othersufiicient for the passage of track element 1. -But the transverse gaugeof the apparatus was then greater than the master gauge; this solution,in addition to the loss of time inherent in the mounting of theapparatus, made it necessary to take it wholly to pieces every time atrain was to travel on a track adjacent to the one that was beingrepaired.

According to another typeof solution, the distance between the rows ofbracket posts was such that the apparatus remained inside the mastergauge. possible to pass between the rows of posts a track elementdisposed fiatwise and the apparatus had to be designed to permitofinclining the track element when passing it between said rows ofbracket posts.

This way of proceeding slowed down the oper-- ation of displacing thetrack element andthe mechanism intended to ensure the inclination ofsaid element constituted a supplementary complication of the. apparatus.

According to my invention, I give a bent shape (analogous for instanceto that of a C) to at least all the bracketposts located on one side ofplatform I, and these bracket posts are pivotally mounted about verticalaxes.

Thus, when it is desired to perform an operation of laying or removing atrack element, these posts are adjusted to have, their convexity turnedtoward the outside, the free space between the two rows of bracket poststhus permitting the passage of the track element.

On the contrary, when the traffic conditions require it (circulation ofthe apparatus, working performed on a track adjacent to a track open tocirculation, etc.) the bracket posts are retracted into a common lateralplane, the whole of the apparatus then remaining inside the mastergauge.

But this distance did not make it Preferably, the two rows of bracketposts are pivotally mounted.

Platform l, is mounted on the usual wheels 9 and is preferably fittedwith the prescribed parts, such as buffers, brakes, couplings and,advantageously, with a motor and speed reducing gear unit for instanceof the electric type (not shown by the drawings), which acts on atoothed wheel l keyed on one of the axles, said motor unit giving theapparatus an autonomy for small displacements, in particular for thoserequired for laying or removing track elements along a track section.

Concerning now the mounting of posts 6, it is advantageously carried outas shown by Fig. 2, each post being supported, at its lower part, by apiece H, for instance of moulded steel, fixed to the edge of platform iand forming both a lateral guide (preferably with the interposition.

of needles) and a footstep, ball bearing l2, and, at its upper part, bya piece [3 of smaller dimensions, fixed to the edge of cantilever girder5,

said piece playing substantially the part of a footstep lateral guide.

I provide acontrol system for simultaneously pivoting all the bracketposts of the same row. This system may be constituted, for each row ofposts, by an endless screw 14 operable by means of a handwh'eel or thelike and cooperating with toothed wheel elements l5 fixed to the base ofeach bracketpost of the corresponding row.

The system will be advantageously completed by longitudinal balancingstays [6 for the raised portion of the apparatus (which stays servechiefly when the system is running as an element of a train). Andplatform l, is ballasted for instance by mounting at one end of saidplatform any suitable ballast and at its other end an electricgenerating set I! intended to supply current to the various motors andelectric systems of the apparatus (lifting motor and conveyor carriagetranslation motor, translation motor for the whole .of the apparatus,and, possibly, hauling winch motor and searchlight for night working).

I may provide any complementary ballasting of platform l as may seemnecessary for the stability of the whole of the apparatus when thecharge is applied to the ends of the runway 2, such a ballasting beingfor instance possibly constituted by means of old rails placed betweenthe platform axles.

Before entering intothe description of details concerning conveyorcarriage 3, it is pointed out that such an apparatus can easily beincorporated in a train for transporting it from one working place toanother. It will suffice, for this purpose, to retract the bracket postsof the two rows, and, preferably, to place, under each of the booms ofcantilever girder 5, platforms on which said ends can be supported.

Once the apparatus brought to the working place, it is possible, either,in the case of a single track, to pivot both rows of posts 6 outwardlywhich gives the maximum space between said rows, or, in the case of atrack adjacent to another track on which traflic is going on, to pivotonly the bracket posts located on the side opposed to said adjacenttrack, the spacebetween the two rows being still sufficient to permitpassage of the track elements to be displaced; in this case, it will notbe necessary to stop the operations or to perform any transformation ofthe apparatus when a train is being signalled on said adjacent track.

the master gauge).

Concerning now the conveyor carriage 3 and the lifting means belongingthereto, they are made, accordin to another feature of my invention, insuch manner that the direction of track element 1 to be moved along theaxis of the platform can be'modified inside certain limits andthatpreferably said element can further be displaced transversely.

. This result could be obtained by a suitable mounting of the runway,But it seems preferable to fix said runway 2 to cantilever girder 5 in adirection parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus, and toconstitute the device for picking up the track (element to be conveyedby two independent transverse bars l8 spaced apart in the longitudinaldirection and including each two means, such for instance as hooks l9adapted to be engaged under the rails of the track element for liftingit. Said hooks are pivoted to the same transverse piece 20 adapted to bedis placed parallel to its axis, on either side of a middle position,for instance by means of an endless screw 2|, preferably operable ateach end by a crank 22; i

Advantageously, bars l8 are controlled by a winch having four drums (twoon either side) capable of ensuring a good balancing of the suspendedelement.

For this purpose, for instance, bars iii are respectively carried, atboth ends of conveyor car riage 3, through cables wound, after passingabout return pulleys, on the drums 25 of a quadruple winch drive,through speed reducing gear ztand a control brake 26, by a liftin motor21,1118 cables that correspond to one of the transverse bars being woundin a direction opposed to that of the cables corresponding to the othertransverse bar, whereby conjugate rotations in the same direction of thefour drums of the winch produce a displacement in the same direction ofthe two transverse bars.

Preferably, the length of these cables is such that those relating tothe front transverse bar 28 are shorter than those corresponding to therear transverse banwhereby fishing of the track element that is beinglaid is facilitated.

Finally, this conveyor carriage is completed by providing a translationmotor 28 which acts, for instance through an endless screw reducinggear29, on atleast one of the axles on which are keyed the rollers 30 of thetransfer carriage.

It will be of interest to provide a double set of control buttons foroperating lifting motor 27 and translation, motor 28 these sets beinggrouped in two similar contact boxes mounted in parallel and fixed eachat one end of rolling platform 1.

Thus, it will be possible for theoperator to control the movements ofthe transverse bars while stand-- ing close to them, this both inthecase of the lifting of a track element 1 carried by trucks 8 and inthe case of said track element being lowered at the other end ofcantilever girder 5.

Such a conveyor carriage, with transverse bars movable transversely andindependently from each other, permits among other operations, of

moving transversely the whole of track element 4 l in such manner as tobring it into axial position in the free space left between the two rowsof bracket posts 6 when only one of these rows is brought into workingposition (case of Fig. 2), and, eventually, of giving said track elementl a certain angle with respect to the axis of platform I (throughtransverse displacementsin-opposed directions of each of the transversebars 18) which permits, when laying or removing tracks in curves, ofplacing the lifting hooks 19 in line with track substructure.

Whatever be the embodiment that is adopted, systems according to myinvention have many true advantages, in particular, that of permittingparticularly quick track laying or removing operations, fully equippedtrack elements (for instance a section of a length averaging 18 meters)being fed from the assembly working place on trucks (three or fourelements for every group of trucks) and the track laying or removingapparatus moving forward along the track that is being repaired bydisplacements of a length substantially equal to that of a trackelement, that of causing no disturbance in circulation along the lateraltracks, that of having an autonomy of circulation which enables thesystem to perform work on a track in operation and to leave the place byits own means when a train is signalled on said track, and finally thatof permitting track laying or removing operation both in curves and instraight lines.

What I claim is:

1. A device for laying and removing railway track elements whichcomprises, in combination,

a rolling platform for use on a railway track, a runway above saidplatform extending symmetrically to the longitudinal middle planethereof, a conveyor carriage adapted to cooperate with said runway fordisplacement therealong, two rows of posts, one along each longitudinalside of said platform, for supporting said runway thereon, at least allthe posts located along one side of said platform being pivotallymounted thereon about at least substantially vertical respective axesand being pivotally mounted in said runway each about the same pivotaxis as that about which it is pivoted to said platform, said pivotallymounted posts being of bent shape in respective planes passing throughsaid axes with their concave portions turned toward said respectiveaxes, and means supported by said carriage for holding track elementssuspended in horizontal position under said carriage between said tworows of posts.

2. A device for laying and removing railway track elements whichcomprises, in combination, a rolling platform for use on a railwaytrack, a runway above said platform extending symmetrically to thelongitudinal middle plane thereof, a conveyor carriage adapted tocooperate with said runway for displacement therealong, two rows ofposts, one along each longitudinal side of said platform, for supportingsaid runway thereon, said posts being pivotally mounted on said platformabout at least substantially vertical respective axes and beingpivotally mounted in said runway each about the same pivot axis as thatabout which it is pivoted to said platform, said pivotally mounted postsbeing of bent shape in respective planes passing through said axes withtheir concave portions turned toward said respective axes, and meanssupported by said carriage for holding track elements suspended inhorizontal position under said carriage betweensaid two rows of posts. iv i 3. .Adevice for laying and removing railway track elementswhichcomprises, in combination, a rollingplatformfor use on a railwaytrack, arunway above said platform extending symmetrically to the longitudinalmiddle plane thereof, a conveyor carriage adapted to cooperate with saidrunway for displacement therealong, two

rowsof posts, one along each longitudinal side of said platform, forsupporting said runway thereon, at least all the posts located along oneside of said platform being pivotally mounted thereon about at leastsubstantially vertical respective axes and being pivotally mounted insaid runway each about the same pivot axis as that about which it ispivoted to said platform, said pivotally mounted posts being of bentshape in respective planes passing through said axes with their concaveportions turned toward respective axes, means supported by said carriagefor holding track elements suspended in horizontal position under saidcarriage between said two rows of posts, and means for simultaneouslypivoting all the posts located on the same side of said platform so asto keep the respective planes in which they are bent parallel to oneanother.

'4. A device for laying and removing railway track elements whichcomprises, in combination, a rolling platform for use on a railwaytrack, a runway above said platform extending symmetrically to thelongitudinal middle plane thereof, a conveyor carriage adapted tocooperate with said runway for displacement therealong, two rows ofposts one along each longitudinal side of said platform, for supportingsaidrunway thereon, at least all the posts located along one side ofsaid platform being pivotally mounted thereon about at leastsubstantially vertical respective axes and being pivotally mounted insaid runway each about the same pivot axis as that about which it ispivoted to said platform,,said pivotally mounted posts being of bentshape in respective planes passing through said axes with their concaveportions turned toward said respective axes, means supported by saidcarriage for holding track elements suspended in horizontal positionunder said carriage between said two rows of posts, and means foradjusting said track element holding means to displace a track elementheld by said carriage transversely to the carriage axis.

5. A device for laying and removing railway track elements whichcomprises, in combination, a rolling platform for use on a railwaytrack, a runway above said platform extending sym metrically to thelongitudinal middle plane there of, a conveyor carriage adapted tocooperate with said runway for displacement therealong, two rows ofposts, one along each longitudinal side of said platform, for supportingsaid runway thereon, at least all the posts located along one side ofsaid platform being pivotally mounted thereon about at leastsubstantially vertical respective axes and being pivotally mounted insaid runway each about the same pivot axis as that about which it ispivoted to said platform, said pivotally mounted posts being of bentshape in respective planes passing through said axes with their concaveportions turned toward said respective axes, two horizontal transversebars supported by said carriage, one at each end of a track elementconveyed by said carriage, means carried by said transverse bars forholdingsaid track element suspended in horizontal position under saidcarriage between said two rows of posts, and means for independentlyadjusting'said transverse bars trans- The following references are ofrecoi'd in the m file of this patent: h

UNITED STATES PATENTS versely to the axis of said carriage.

6. A device according to claim 5 including a gg ia s multiple drum winchon said carriage and cables wound on said winch for supporting'saidtrans- 5 FOREIGN PATENTS verse bars.- r Number I Country Date ABEL LE0CHARLES ND 129,553 Austria Nev, 15, 1931' h h 444,975 Germany Oct. 9,1924 REFERENCES CITED 527,673 France e e (M128, 1921

